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Summers hires Marco Rubio’s former political director

The political director for Florida Sen. Marco Rubio’s campaign for the Senate in 2010 has joined Charlie Summers’ campaign for Maine’s open Senate seat.

Summers’ campaign has added Luke Marchant to its staff as field director, campaign manager Lance Dutson said Thursday.

The tea party-backed Rubio has risen to national prominence in the Republican party following his 2010 victory over independent Charlie Christ, a former Florida governor, and Democrat Kendrick Meeks, a former congressman. Rubio’s name was circulated as a potential vice presidential pick for Mitt Romney before the GOP nominee settled on Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan.

Dutson said the 2010 U.S. Senate campaign in Florida has plenty of parallels to Maine’s 2012 Senate race, with a three-way dynamic and a former governor who was, at one point, considered a prohibitive favorite.

Of course, Dutson is hoping the parallels continue through Nov. 6 and that the final result in Maine mirrors that in Florida: 49 percent for the Republican, 30 percent for the independent former governor and 20 percent for the governor.

Marchant has worked for a number of other Republicans. Before working for Rubio, he served as communications director for U.S. Rep. Pete Olson of Texas after managing his congressional campaign. Marchant has also worked as a staffer for U.S. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott and Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples.